Preparation:

Combine nutritional yeast, flour and vegetable broth powder in a small saucepan, mixing together until combined. Add your liquids and nut butters, then turn heat to medium-low, keep stirring until the powder is smooth and evenly mixed. Add in your spices and let it thickened and until it gets warm, about 2-3 minutes. If there is a strong flour taste, add a little more water or oil and cook a little more. Then turn off heat and add salt to taste.

Serve with Marmite and toast. That’s if you’re a marmite lover like us!

One of my favorite devotionals is taking me through a 10 day “OPTIMISM” challenge and I have to say, it’s been a great focus! Don’t get me wrong, we can’t change our circumstances neither can we just ignore them, but we can choose how we react to them. I think I will engrave it on my forehead. Anyway, I know a lot of people have recently been going through some hardships and I am always amazed at the way this community supports each other during these times. I think that support helps us stay optmistic and/or hopeful.

If we step back and get an eagle’s eye view, we can be reminded that although disappointment, failure and difficulties are part of our lives, they do not signify the entirety of our existence. We can either choose to drown, or choose to fight. Fight for optimism. Fight for an attitude of gratitude. Fight for faith, despite our feelings. Fight for a life filled with joy, instead of negativity.

The mac and cheese sounds amazing! Definitely need to use some nooch in mine next time!

As for the devotionals. I love the ones you post in particular. I feel so lucky to be where I am today, but hardships have definitely helped me put things into perspective. I know that I could have so much worse, but really everything is relative to you and the situation. While you can always find someone else that has it worse, that does not mean that what you are going through is any less painful. I also realized the other day that due to my hardships in life, I have compassion for others in not so great situations. I feel like that is actually a gift.

until I met a man who had no feet.” is so powerful and heart melting!! Thanks Lindsay for always being an inspiration!!! And at the same time, we can be every bit of optimistic we want, but in the end of the day, we would burn out without His help huh? At least, I would feel like that. Muuuahhhh <3 Love your nuggets of gold here!

And canned franks….hmmm haha never knew what to think of 'em. I mean, I'm not a picky eater except for when it comes to deep friend and SOME canned foods!! canned franks give me heebie jeebies, but then again….perhaps, I once complained i had no gourmet food, until I met a man who had canned franks. It's the truth after all right? have a blessed night!

I think we could all use a 10 day optimism challenge. In fact I was just talking about it with a friend today – we realized that somehow it became cool to be negative, and it’s really cramping our style. Luckily we’re both not into self-bashing and or bashing others for our own entertainment, so we’re aiming to spread this message!
Thanks for sharing the recipe too! I’d love to try that special sauce. What a cool alternative to cheese!

I love the devotional. Definitely makes you (me) think. I need an optimism challenge in my life! I don’t think I commented on yesterday’s post but I will be trying that 30 minute workout…I always love the ones you post.
Hugs my dear!
PS – I posted : )

“I don’t get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here” – ‘the luckiest’ by ben folds
that’s one of j & my favorite songs and i thought this lyric was appropriate here. i often remind myself that my struggles only make me who i am.
the sculpter has to break the rock up bit by bit before the statue can emerge!

10-day optimism challenge…love it. such a great reminder about CHOOSING HOW WE REACT to circumstances and how we ALWAYS have control over that….we can always choose optimism/ positivity! great great reminder. thanks linds! and mac and peas-yes please! i will just skip the dogs

isn’t funny how our childhood foods can either make us feel comforted or make us gag? haha. I hope you try it sans hot dogs. ANd yes, I always need to hear “trust God’s plans!” Hope this second job goes well this weekend. Or is it next weekend??

“If we step back and get an eagle’s eye view, we can be reminded that although disappointment, failure and difficulties are part of our lives, they do not signify the entirety of our existence. We can either choose to drown, or choose to fight. Fight for optimism. Fight for an attitude of gratitude. Fight for faith, despite our feelings. Fight for a life filled with joy, instead of negativity.”

I dont eat mac and cheese. I try not to eat alot of pasta. Makes me feel blah.
I loved the little devotional thought. Depth for sure
O and I can barely breathe my abs are so sore. I hope noone makes me laugh today. O and my thighs are sore. O boy.

I made a bowl of mac n cheez yesterday with nutritional yeast + butter, but yours looks WAY better. Holy yum!!! Turkey hot dogs rock, too. I would have used GF pasta but I was too lazy to wait 20 mins for it. heh

Everytime I’m at the grocery store and see nutritional yeast I keep meaning to buy it and try it….not sure I’ve seen brewer’s yeast- I’ll have to check out wholefoods for that next time I’m there!!
I love the devotional…so true. and totally needed to read it right now. it reminded me of a favourite quote (shocker eh?), “you are exactly where you are meant to be.” I need to go print the end of your blog out and stick it on the fridge! happy packing friend!

I love that quote; I should definitely remember that next time I’m moaning about something, it’s so right
And, I don’t know if I should admit to this, I’ve never had macaroni and cheese… how can that be?! I’ll have to try it using this sauce, it looks brilliant

“Fight for an attitude of gratitude.” I think I need to have that tattooed on my forehead…or at least made into a t-shirt. Amazing words. You always know just what to post to get me thinking! I heart you!

Oh my goodness this looks like heaven on a plate! I have never tried cooking with brewers yeast does it taste like nutritional yeast? Also Lindsay thanks for the comments on my post yesterday. How long did it take you to detox from the pill? Also, how is Jason adjusting to no training right now? Hopefully he is enjoying his time off.

I love brewers yeast. It is higher in protein and iron than nutritional yeast. I like it cause its nuttier. I am still off the pill. Its been almost a year. They say it can take up to a year to get the hormones back in line. Mine are still working themselves out but its much better.
James is doing ok. His knee is still bothering him so he’s just swimming and doing strength training. I know he misses racing so bad but he’s so wise to heal everything first. I’d be so impatient!

When my husband and I were just dating he would always make the Kraft mac and cheese and throw in peas! I guess he burnt himself out on the idea of mixing noodles with veggies b/c now he won’t touch any version of the stuff. Even if it is homemade!!

I love the thoughts at the end of this post. We all face certain trials and tribulations in this life and although it is HARD we have a choice to make. We can allow our trials to suffocate us or we can choose to rise up and fight, despite our pain. This reminder comes at a great time for me and I am going to make a conscious effort to choose JOY.

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Lindsay Cotter (your gluten free guide) and welcome to Cotter Crunch! I'm a 30 something year old Nutrition Specialist and Fitness Professional for Endurance Athletes and Gluten-Free dieters. As a wife to a professional Triathlete, I'm here to be your guide to eating gluten-free, and maintaining proper nutrition as you work to keep your body in top shape for your next race or workout.
That's why I'm called the SHERPA wife; to support and FUEL others!!
Cottercrunch@hotmail.com for more info. Cheers!

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Healthy Bite LOVE

These two eBooks are some of my best Healthy Bite recipes not posted on the blog. In volume I, I share thirteen of my favorite Healthy Bite flavors along with some of the originals. In Volume II I've shared 6 new fun recipes for all occasions: fueling, recovery, snacks, holiday treats, etc.